Starting New Year's day, most seniors in the province in government subsidized residential care began paying more for their rent and accommodation.

But the lowest income seniors are paying less.

The fee schedule changes, which were announced in October by Health Services Minister Kevin Falcon and came into affect Jan. 1, 2010, are being criticized by some seniors' advocates and the Opposition.

Under the changes, 75 per cent of seniors in government subsidized residential care will pay more depending on the amount of their personal income while the lowest earning 25 per cent of seniors will pay less.

Low income seniors could save as much as $540 annually, according to Falcon while higher income seniors will pay up to 80 per cent of their income for their room and board costs with a cap of $2,932-a-month. The change amounts to a five per cent increase for upper income seniors or more depending on the kind of care they're receiving

"The new residential care rate structure will better protect low-income residential care clients," said Falcon. "At the same time, it will introduce a new and equitable rate structure so that a client's income determines what they pay for residential care. It's fair and the right thing to do."

But Cranbrook seniors' advocate Gary Lancaster doesn't find the new system to be fair at all. He says several seniors have told him the new system will present a real hardship for them and may even force some of them to move.

"The reason we haven't heard more about this is they're scared to talk. They're scared to ask for help and concerned about their privacy and don't speak out because they feel threatened."

It's not uncommon for seniors to feel that if they speak up about their situation they will be evicted, says Lancaster. He adds his own mother is in a local care facility and now has to pay $400 more a month for her care.

"If you add that up, it's over $4,000-a-year. I don't know where that money is coming from. She's 95-years-old and has no more money. So what will be cut off now of the little bit she had?"

The worst part of it is seniors have no way of knowing if any of the increased fees they're paying will go to help them, says Lancaster.

The increase will take $54 million out of the pockets of those who can afford it the least and will impoverish many seniors in government care," says NDP health critic Adrian Dix.

"This revenue grab will leave many patients without the means to pay for prescriptions, personal affects, and basic needs while they receive the lowest standard of care in the nation," says Dix.

He adds a senior whose before-tax income is $22,000 will be required to pay close to an additional $2000 – or approximately 10 per cent of net income - to be in a residential care facility.

"The monthly income seniors will have left over after the revenue grab will be insufficient in many cases to cover prescriptions to essentials like toiletries and clothing. And this is against a backdrop that features family members on average helping to pay for their parents' expenses," Dix said. 

But Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett says the entire picture of senior care turned for the better when the Liberal government was elected in 2001. The NDP also brought in residential care fee increases when they were the government but left seniors living in sub-standard facilities.

"When I first got elected, seniors in my riding were waiting up to two years to get into long term residential care. The average wait right now is two months at the most."

The Liberal government also brought in assisted living care, which didn't exist before, Bennett says. Facilities like Rocky Mountain Lodge were closed that weren't up to today's standards for long term care.

"We've got these beautiful new facilities now here, over in Fernie, Sparwood and throughout the riding that we didn't have. Is it perfect? No it isn't but we're definitely moving in the right direction."

Meanwhile Lancaster says he's also concerned about the impact of the HST on seniors when it comes into affect July 1, 2010. "When the HST kicks in that's going to be a cost for these facilities and who's going to pay that?"

However, Falcon says residential care clients will be left with a minimum of $275-a-month to cover personal expenses, giving them the highest retained income in the country.